West Lake Sammamish Parkway is set to reopen by mid-April, but a city utility project may impact traffic along 164th Avenue beginning March 26.

The city will replace aging water pipes along 164th Avenue between Northeast 8th and Southeast 14th streets from March 26 through June or July. To minimize traffic disruptions on 164th Avenue the first two weeks, the contractor will be doing work in the east shoulder of 164th Avenue, between SE 9th and SE 14 Streets. This will allow continuous two-way traffic along 164th Avenue with only ccasional interruptions. Work will take place Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Traffic impacts are likely the third week of construction when 164h Avenue will still be open to traffic, but will have flaggers dropping traffic to one lane at the location of the work crew. Drivers will be advised to use other roads. See entire City map for possible alternate routes.

Electronic message boards have been in place for a couple of weeks, advising drivers of the utility project on 164th. During the week of March 26, standard construction detour signs will be placed and remain for the duration of the construction work.

While the detour change may cause some inconvenience until West Lake Sammamish Parkway reopens, it's important that the city's utility work begin this month to stay on schedule and be completed ahead of a city overlay project, which will begin later this summer on 164th Avenue. Residents will be informed about pavement resurfacing construction start and end dates later this summer.

West Lake Sammamish Parkway has been closed since Jan. 22 due to a mudslide that undercut the roadway. When the steep slope gave way on the east side of the Parkway, dirt and debris under the roadway slid down the hill, leaving an unsupported section of concrete panels. With the redesign complete and the necessary property easements in place, construction began the first week in March.